To use a dummy or not?

zaksmum

My baby grandson's 10 days old and screaming for England. My daughter in law recommended that my daugher should use a dummy for him as she used them with her two boys (my other grandsons) to good effect.

My daughter said she didn't like them and anyway you can't use them in babies under a couple of months old.

It made me wonder how many mums do use dummies for their babies, and are they effective?

balletshoes

your daughter doesn't want to use one, so really thats the decision made .

I did use a dummy, but controlled its use after my DD was into a routine (and I'm pretty sure I started her on a dummy before she was 2 months old).She only got her dum when she was in her cot or pram and ready for sleep. She gave her dum to Santa one Christmas Eve when she was 2, and didn't use one or ask for one again after that.

Plans_all_plans

I never gave my DD a dummy (she's 4) I think they are unsightly and this is the reason I never gave her one!!

I also think the hassle of getting rid of them isn't worth it and I HATE it when a child is trying to talk with a dummy in. Take it out and let the poor thing speak properly!

I think I'll be in the monority, but I wouldn't igive one. Most of my friends did.

Is the child breastfed? I breastfed and if ever she cried, I popped her on the breast and this always calmed her.

Nicki

Your daughter is correct (again). It is not recommended to introduce a dummy until breastfeeding has been well established, generally around the 6-8 week mark.

Some mums just don't like them (I don't for one) and some babies aren't interested. My last baby had severe reflux and was in hospital for a week when he was 4 weeks old. The hospital offered him a dummy to try and soothe him as he cried all of the time, but he wasn't in the least interested either then or since.

meritaten

hi zaksmum - I am not against dummies - some kids need them, some dont! I hadnt heard that they werent recommended for babies under two months (guidelines again?). but my first had one from about a week old and my second didnt at all, the third only had one from six months when I had to give up breastfeeding but rarely wanted it! he wanted breast but it wasnt forthcoming!
Its up to your daughter, but some babies just find a dummy comforting and if you are careful and only use it 'in extremis' then I dont think they are harmful. some babies not given dummies DO resort to thumbsucking - which is MUCH harder to control and to stop!
sounds like your daughter is having a few probs. the baby is crying a lot? I know she is breastfeeding - is she watching what SHE eats? some foods the mother eats can affect the milk you know. strong tasting or spicy foods - a lot of dairy etc can result in the baby having tummy ache. my mum told me that what YOU eat the baby eats the next day! and in my experience thats true!
Is your DD stressed? that can also affect the baby (and her milk).
sorry to ask so many questions - just trying to help!

zaksmum

Yes I know my daughter doesn't want to use one. I just wondered in general what proportion of young mums today do use them. I've got no intention of trying to persuade her to use something she doesn't want to use.

I don't particularly like them myself and never used them for my kids. But I have to admit my daughter in law did get it right with my other grandsons because she controlled it so that when they were given the dummy they immediately stopped crying and settled down.

zaksmum

meritaten wrote: »

hi zaksmum - I am not against dummies - some kids need them, some dont! I hadnt heard that they werent recommended for babies under two months (guidelines again?). Its up to your daughter, but some babies just find a dummy comforting and if you are careful and only use it 'in extremis' then I dont think they are harmful. some babies not given dummies DO resort to thumbsucking - which is MUCH harder to control and to stop!
sounds like your daughter is having a few probs. the baby is crying a lot? I know she is breastfeeding - is she watching what SHE eats? some foods the mother eats can affect the milk you know. strong tasting or spicy foods - a lot of dairy etc can result in the baby having tummy ache. my mum told me that what YOU eat the baby eats the next day! and in my experience thats true!
Is your DD stressed? that can also affect the baby (and her milk).
sorry to ask so many questions - just trying to help!

Hi meritaten, thanks. Yes she is watching what she eats...religiously. I suppose she is a bit stressed after 10 days with practically no sleep.:)

skintchick

I'm another one who is anti-dummy. In fact, when I finally did try one (my DD was also a screamer) DD refused!

I breastfed and just offered a breast when she cried, it's the best thing - the dummy is only a replacement breast/nipple anyway.

And Baby Whisperer says to get rid of them by 3 months I think, so goodness knows where the window of opportunity is!

They can also affect jaw development and speech development, so that is enough in itself for me to steer clear, and in terms of feeds, if baby is hungry but mum shoves a dummy in then they go hungry, and will begin not to trust their own hunger signals, and also learn that mum won;t feed them when they're hungry. I had a friend who used a dummy constantly and then failed to breastfeed successfully despite allegedly desperately wanting to - it was clear her use of a dummy had scuppered her.

mumofsquirt

Hi there

I spoke to my health visitor about using a dummy with my little one. They (NHS) recommend using a dummy to get babies to sleep as it can help reduce the incidence of cot death. She also said if you don't introduce a dummy early on they probably won't take to it.

pigpen

3 of my 9 had dummies.. my oldest would suck his entire hand and give himself chronic tummyache.. the dummy gave him something else to suck and he didn't take in anything like as much wind.. we took it off him at 17 months. My oldest daughter had one from being 10 months until she was 2.. she had pneumonia several times and the rhythmic sucking regulated her breathing (also how it can apparently help reduce risk of cot death) and my 5th daughter had one, she had terrible reflux so was in almost constant pain despite medication and the sucking increases saliva and eased it a little.. she had hers until she was almost 5.. I drew the line at going to school with it!!

Again your daughter is right in offering the breast when baby wails.. his tummy is very tiny and he should be feeding roughly every couple of hours.. My youngest was about 8 weeks before she settled on 6 feeds a day at vaguely predictable times.. before that she fed nigh on constantly.

rpc

We used one from 2 days old (at the suggestion of the midwives on the ward) because he was having trouble settling. It helped masses and still does. If he's getting fussy and tired, he'll often go for his thumb and we'd rather he used a dummy. Often he'll calm down or nod off within minutes. No problems with bf at all, but ymmv.